Arrangement for checking the condition of the air enclosed in small-sized premises such as caravans and ventilating same

ABSTRACT

Arrangement for checking the condition of the air enclosed in small-sized premises such as caravans and ventilating same.

United States Patent F24fl3/00 98/45,46, 48,32;431/80,76

[ H [50] Field of Search.......

[72} Inventor Raymond Bernard Faure l0 Blvd. dlnkermann,Neuilly-sur-Seine 92, France 80 MN 81 93 4 S N mm w m "Pam Shm mm QTY. mwm T .WSFVJ mm E W24 N55 U99 H 5 22 29 m .l 6 U 22 w I 879 9 I M ,8 W 561 een n mw m Q J-JF m mm I rl wmmam .l r AFPP 3,074,644 [/1963 Geniesse3,307,613 3/1967 Rexer.........

[54] ARRANGEMENT FOR CHECKING THE Primary ExaminerWilliam J. WyeCONDITION OF THE AIR ENCLOSED IN SMALL- Attorney-Pierce, Scheffler andParker SIZED PREMISES SUCH AS CARAVANS AND VENTILATING SAME 4 Claims, 1Drawing Fig.

g the condition of the premises such as caravans and ven- 431/76,431/80, 98/45, 98/46, 98/48 tilating same.

h T0 OTHER CONTROLLED T0 6A5 BURNING pP R FROM GASEOUS FUL SUPPLYAPPARATUS Patented June 1 1371 m m m 6 S m m 0 R P WA mm TL NF I 0 m m wWT 0A GM M I- G W W S U T 4 w 2 mA FROM GASEOUS FUEL SUPPLY IN VENTDRRaymond ernard Fcwre 121, J ,2, Pm

A orneg:

ARRANGEMENT FOR CHECKING THE CONDITION OF THE AIR ENCLOSED INSMALL-SIZED PREMISES SUCH AS 'C ARAVANS AND VEN'IILATING SAME Theinvention covers a safety system protecting caravans and similarly smallclosed premises against efflux of carbon dioxide and the like inertgases produced by stoves, cooking apparatus and the like located withinthe caravan. This is obtained by a monitoring gas flame operating on theverge of stability so that'a's soon as the contents of carbon dioxideinside the premises rise above a predetermined value, the flame dies outand a thermosensitive member subjected to the action of said flame cutsout the feed of fuel to the apparatus liable to produce carbon dioxideand opens a ventilating flap.

The present invention has for its object a safety arrangement adapted toproduce automatically the ventilation of small premises such as a campercaravan within which one or more apparatus producing carbon dioxide andthe like inert gases operate, and furthermore to stop operation of saidapparatus in case of emergency.

The safety arrangement according to the invention comprises anadjustable gas burner located within the caravan the adjustment of theburner being such as well known in the art that the flame may be undernormal conditions just at the limit of breaking away and becomesextinguished when the contents of carbon dioxide or the like inert gasesin the ambient atmosphere within the caravan reach a predetermined valuesaid bumerbeing associated with a thermosensitive member subjected tothe radiation of the burner flame and controlling simultaneously a valveinserted in the pipe feeding the gasproducing apparatus, a miniatureswitch producing a signal stopping other-apparatus and means opening aventilating flap in the premises enclosing the apparatus.

According to one embodiment the two operations to wit the ventilationand the stopping of the apparatus may be obtained by means of one or twothermosensitive members heated by the same pilot flame and of which onecuts off the admission of gases into the burner, while the other opens aventilation flap and operates the miniature switch.

By way of example and in order to further the understanding of theinvention there is illustrated in the single FIGURE of the accompanyingdrawing one suitable embodiment of the arrangement according to theinvention, said embodiment being shown in exploded perspective view.

As illustrated it is apparent that the arrangement for monitoring theatmosphere within the interior of the caravan indicated generally on thedrawing by the letter 1 includes an auxiliary monitoring gas burner Ilocated within the caravan and which is fed with primary air from withinthe caravan through an opening 2, said burner being adjusted as wellknown per se in a manner such that the flame 3 of said burner may undernormal conditions be on the verge of instability that is when thecontents of carbon dioxide in the ambient atmosphere within the caravanrise beyond a predetermined value, said flame breaks away and isextinguished. Said flame 3 is adapted to heat the end 4 of a bulb of athermosensitive member including an aneroid cap inserted in the casing5.

In the immediate vicinity of the nozzle of the burner I there is locatedan electrode of an electric igniter 8 connected through an electric leadwith a piezoelectric control member 6 actuated manually by a handle 9.

The system including the burner 1, the bulb 4 of the thermosensitivemember and the igniter 8 is housed in a chamber 10 protected by agrating against deflagration. The casing 5 is provided with two ports 11and 12 connected with the gas pipes I5 and 16 through correspondingapertures I la, 12a in a connecting box 14. Pipe is connected with a gassupply source and pipe I6 is connected to the apparatus such as acooking stove which produces the carbon dioxide or similar gas withinthe caravan which is desired to be monitored. Furthermore there areprovided a clip 17 associated with a pull cord I9 controlling aventilator and a miniature switch 13. The whole arrangement is enclosedwithin a housing 18 which is adapted to be mounted at a convenient placewithin the caravan. The burner I is supplied with combustible gas frompipre 15 within casin S.

he operation oft e arrangement IS as follows: When the carbon dioxidecontent in the atmosphere within the caravan rises beyond apredetermined value, the flame 3 breaks off the nozzle of the burner Iand dies out since the burner no longer receives the required amount ofprimary airthrough opening 2 to maintain combustion. The bulb 4 being nolonger subjected to the radiation of the flame 3 the aneroid capenclosed within the casing 5 is deformed and its deformation closes offthrough the agency of well-known mechanical means the communicationbetween the pipes 15 and I6 whereby the gas burning apparatus fed by thepipe 15 can no longer remain operative. The miniature switch I3 which isactuated simultaneously with closing off of the communication betweenpipes I5 and I6 controls for instance the closing of a pipe notillustrated feeding fuel oil for example to a stove heating or similarapparatus. Furthermore, the deformation of the aneroid cap containedwithin the casing 5 opens the clip 17 to which is secured the cord 19controlling the opening ofa ventilation flap. The latter may beassociated with a conventional exhaust fan for force-ventilating theinterior of the caravan of the type wherein cord 19, when released fromclip 17 permits the flap to open and simultaneously turn on the exhaustfan.

The arrangement disclosed is of particular advantage for ensuring safetyinside caravans carrying, within a confined space, cooking apparatus,illuminating and cooling apparatus and also heating apparatus withoutany exhaust being provided for the burnt gases. The arrangementaccording to the invention ensures as a mater of fact an automaticstoppage of any defective apparatus of which the efflux may be dangerousand simultaneously it produces an automatic ventilation of the premises.

The chamber I0 protected against deflagration is essential for theincorporation of the improved arrangement disclosed with caravans sinceit often occurs that such caravans stand on sites infested by mosquitoesand generally the inhabitants of caravans destroy the latter by means ofaerosol bombs projecting highly inflammable gases.

What I claim is:

I. The combination with a caravan of the camper type or a similarlysmall enclosed space which is provided with apparatus such as a cookingstove heated by combustion of a gaseous fuel and which produces carbondioxide or similar inert and deleterious gas, of means for monitoringthe level of the carbon dioxide content within the caravan whichcomprises an auxiliary monitoring gas burner within the caravan andwhich is adjusted so as to normally produce a monitoring flame just onthe verge of extinction, said auxiliary gas burner being supplied withprimary air from the atmosphere within the caravan and said flame beingextinguished as the carbon dioxide content in said atmosphere risesabove a predetermined level, a thermosensitive member located in thevicinity of the gas burner flame so as to be subjected to the heatproduced by the monitoring flame, and means controlled by saidthermosensitive member upon extinction of the flame for cutting off thesupply of fuel to said gas producing apparatus and for opening aventilation flap in the caravan so as to vent the interior thereof.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 and which further includes anelectrical switch actuated by said thermosensitive member uponextinction of the monitoring flame, said switch being connected in acontrol circuit for other apparatus located within the caravan such as aheating stove.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said means controlled bysaid thermosensitive member for opening said ventilation flap includes aclip in association with an operating cord for the flap, said clipserving to release the cord so as to open the flap when the monitoringflame is extinguished.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 and wherein said auxiliarymonitoring gas burner includes an electrical lighter and a manuallycontrolled piezoelectric generator for energizing said lighter.

1. The combination with a caravan of the camper type or a similarlysmall enclosed space which is provided with apparatus such as a cookingstove heated by combustion of a gaseous fuel and which produces carbondioxide or similar inert and deleterious gas, of means for monitoringthe level of the carbon dioxide content within the caravan whichcomprises an auxiliary monitoring gas burner within the caravan andwhich is adjusted so as to normally produce a monitoring flame just onthe verge of extinction, said auxiliary gas burner being supplied withprimary air from the atmosphere within the caravan and said flame beingextinguished as the carbon dioxide content in said atmosphere risesabove a predetermined level, a thermosensitive member located in thevicinity of the gas burner flame so as to be subjected to the heatproduced by the monitoring flame, and means controlleD by saidthermosensitive member upon extinction of the flame for cutting off thesupply of fuel to said gas producing apparatus and for opening aventilation flap in the caravan so as to vent the interior thereof. 2.The invention as defined in claim 1 and which further includes anelectrical switch actuated by said thermosensitive member uponextinction of the monitoring flame, said switch being connected in acontrol circuit for other apparatus located within the caravan such as aheating stove.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said meanscontrolled by said thermosensitive member for opening said ventilationflap includes a clip in association with an operating cord for the flap,said clip serving to release the cord so as to open the flap when themonitoring flame is extinguished.
 4. The invention as defined in claim 1and wherein said auxiliary monitoring gas burner includes an electricallighter and a manually controlled piezoelectric generator for energizingsaid lighter.